The provincial government, in partnership with the City of Winnipeg and CentreVenture Development Corporation, has launched a storefront grant program aimed at encouraging investment in downtown Winnipeg by offering businesses up to $200,000 each for improvements that make premises more welcoming and accessible.
Targets and priorities for funding
Applications are open for small- and medium-sized retail businesses, restaurants, cafés, specialty retailers and certain non-profit organisations that occupy or plan to occupy downtown storefronts. The program will prioritise:
- Winnipeg-owned businesses;
- storefronts facing Graham Avenue;
- businesses moving into previously vacant storefronts;
- businesses introducing new or underserved goods and services downtown.
Work eligible under the program includes façade improvements, lighting and signage, windows and entrances, patios and canopies, accessibility upgrades, landscaping and public-realm enhancements, and interior improvements visible from the street.
Funding scale and context
The program will accept applications until the allocation — a total of $1.4 million — is exhausted. At the same time, government and civic leaders acknowledge downtown Winnipeg faces deep and persistent challenges, including retail and office vacancies, economic stagnation, public safety concerns and visible open-air drug use.
Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses framed the program as a step toward creating “a healthy and vibrant business community, safe and community spaces for people to be in.” CentreVenture’s president and CEO Rochelle Squires said the initiative would help create “more welcoming spaces that attract customers and investment downtown.”
“Storefront Success will help businesses create more welcoming spaces that attract customers and investment downtown,” said Rochelle Squires.
Where this fits with other downtown initiatives
The storefront program builds on earlier provincial investments in downtown safety. Earlier this year the province allocated $2.2 million to five organisations focused on community and neighbourhood support, with the stated aim of improving safety.
Officials acknowledge the funding alone will not resolve complex, interrelated issues downtown. The storefront grants are intended to complement safety, social services and development efforts by improving the look and accessibility of street-level businesses — factors that can influence foot traffic and investment.
Practical considerations for applicants
Businesses considering an application will need to weigh the scope of eligible work and the competitive nature of the funding. Priority is given to certain applicants, and the program is first-come, first-served until the $1.4 million envelope is allocated.
Officials have indicated the program aims to draw more residents and visitors downtown by making the streetscape more attractive and usable. That focus on visible storefront improvements follows requests from owners and neighbourhood advocates for targeted support that can be completed relatively quickly and noticed by the public.
What comes next for downtown Winnipeg
City and provincial leaders describe the funding as one part of a broader push to revive downtown, though they also warned more work remains. The program’s success will be judged in part on whether funded improvements translate into increased foot traffic, lower vacancy rates and renewed private investment.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum per business | $200,000 |
| Total program allocation | $1.4 million |
| Earlier provincial safety investment (this year) | $2.2 million |
Applications are currently being accepted. Downtown business owners and community stakeholders will be watching how quickly funds are distributed and whether the improvements encourage more people to work, shop and spend time in Winnipeg’s core.
The program’s parameters and prioritization criteria make downtown-owned small businesses and those prepared to occupy vacant storefronts particularly well positioned to access support, but with limited total dollars available the overall impact will depend on uptake and the scale of projects supported.
